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Born in Yaounde, Cameroon in 1973, Serge Mouangue; an interior and industrial designer and artist immigrated to France, Paris at the age of six. He studied applied Art, Interior and Industrial design in Paris and it was during his studies, his deep interest in other cultures compelled him to travel beyond the surrounding European countries to Australia, the United States, China, Turkey and Mexico. On completing his studies, he settled in Australia where he worked as an artist and free lanced for Blue Sky Design and Anibou as an industrial designer. This provided him the opportunity to showcase his Water Color paintings and broaden his design experience.
He returned to France where he worked for Renault Motor Company in car designing. During this time with Renault, he took courses to learn the Japanese language and he was eventually given an opportunity to work for Nissan Ford Motor Company in Japan; thus increasing his fascination with the Japanese culture.
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The strong love for his country, its culture, music and the ties to the family are a major influence in his work and way of thinking. In addition, parallels between the deep rooted traditions of his homeland and those of Japan are evident in his work.
Life in Tokyo; while modern, still respects the Japan's ancient custom is the inspiration behind the project WAfrica. WAfrica aims to develop new means through which we celebrate diversity in harmony and peace. WAfrica search for ways to express a new aesthetic by the transformation of timeless iconic symbols. WAfrica is response to the argument that globalization may rob us of our cultural identity- a conversation between to ancient, strong and sophisticated identities: African and Japan. The conversation WAfrica brings to the table is about weaving strands of our stories together. WAfrica is about Hope and embracing the possibilities made available when the unique treasures brought by each of us are juxtaposed to form a new enlightened international consciousness.
"I pursue and observe the complexity of different values and cultural identities in search of threads to weave a fabric which is a blending of these differences"
Serge Mouangue
Amaka Onyioha
